This past weekend my wife Shar and I attended a wedding in Utah. The only two Australians among 175 people. The Sunday before in Los Angeles we were at a charity fundraiser and once again, the lone Aussies in the room, among 200 or so Americans.

Always, and I mean always at these gatherings, comes the inevitable question: “So as a reporter what are you telling the Australians about Donald Trump?”

And then comes the follow up, often accompanied with a smile or at times a worried look: “What do they think of him?”

9NEWS US bureau chief Rob Penfold has reported out of America for more than three decades. Picture: 9NEWS ()

Until now I could only say for sure: “They are certainly fascinated by Trump. I think Aussies are concerned about his attitude to other countries and I know for sure he got himself offside with Australians after that phone call with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, which he angrily cut short.”

But now I have a lot more to tell them and for most Americans it’s going to be disappointing - no, let’s say shocking news.

The highly respected Lowy Institute’s 2018 Poll “Understanding Australian Attitudes to the World”, released today, confirms what I certainly suspected; that President Trump’s presence in the White House has meant a dive in America’s stocks in Australia.

The poll shows that 70 percent of Australians have “no” or “not too much” confidence in the so-called leader of the free world. 70 percent!

President Donald Trump is not helping the image of the United States in Australia. Picture: AAP (AAP)

That would have to be an all-time low for any US president. In the view of those polled he barely beats out Vladimir Putin and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un as world leaders “on the nose.”

“There is no question,” says Dr Michael Fullilove, Lowy Institute executive director, “that Donald Trump’s presidency has eroded Australians’ trust and confidence in the United States as a responsible global actor.”

I first began reporting out of the United States in 1985 and never have I witnessed such disdain from Australians for a president. The figures will be extremely disappointing for my American friends who have always told me proudly that Australia along with Great Britain “are our greatest friends.”

Trump's handling of the border issue has taken a further toll on his image. Picture: AAP (AAP)

“We love Australia,” is what I always hear from those who have been there. And from those who haven’t: “Oh I’ve always wanted to go there.” Such is the connection from Americans to Australia.

The poll figures deliver more bad news. A bare majority of Australians (55 percent) trust the US to “act responsibly in the world.” This represents a 28-point fall since 2011. That, pre-Trump, would have been unimaginable.

Despite the low level of confidence in the Trump presidency Australians’ support for the US alliance remains firm. The poll also shows Australians are very concerned about the growing assertiveness of China and the effect it might have on us long term.

Australians are also increasingly worried about the growing threat of terrorism, according to the Lowy Institute poll. Picture: Supplied ()

But, interestingly, Aussies are only marginally more concerned about China (63 percent) compared to our principal ally, the US (58 percent).

But beating out all that, and of greatest concern to Australians according to the Lowy poll, is the threat of terrorism. Two-thirds of the population (66 percent) worry that “terrorists could kill innocent Australian citizens in our cities.”

So now I am armed with the “Trump figures”, it is most certainly going to make for some uncomfortable conversations after the question I will undoubtedly get sometime this week: “What do Australians make of our president?”